Beware! Master Crime Plotters on the Loose

This year’s CrimeFest began in Bristol, England, on Thursday and continues into tomorrow. Last night brought the announcement there of longlisted works in a variety of Dagger Awards categories, and the winners of five other prizes will be reported this evening. In the midst of it all, The Rap Sheet’s dynamic UK correspondent, Ali Karim—powered by periodic glasses of gin—has been sending photographs of the festivities our way. We’ll likely have more shots to share when Ali puts together a wrap-up of CrimeFest 2016, but for now, here are more than a dozen images that give should give you some sense of what it’s like to be attending that Bristol convention.


(Left to right) CrimeFest organizer Myles Allfrey finds a rare free moment to chat with Shots editor Mike Stotter.


Author Michael Grothaus with Kiwi blogger Craig Sisterson.


Mike Stotter poses with crime writers William Ryan and Leigh Russell, and literary agent Oli Munson.


Dagger nominee Martin Edwards with blogger Peter Rozovsky.


Scottish novelist Ian Rankin joins the festivities.


Ruth Dudley Edwards moderates a predictably delightful “humor in crime fiction” panel featuring Mike Ripley, James Runcie, Nev Fountain, and Douglas Lindsay.


Authors Sarah Pinborough and Kevin Wignall.


Shots critic Ayo Onatade with author Robert Wilson.


Peter Guttridge interviews fellow novelist James Naughtie and John le Carré biographer Adam Sisman.


Caroline Todd (who writes the Ian Rutledge series with her son, Charles) and Michael Sears (who, under the nom de plume “Michael Stanley,” pens the Detective Kubu novels with Stanley Trollip).


Barry Forshaw moderates the Brit Noir panel, with guests Alison Bruce, Martin Edwards, Howard Linskey, and Laura Wilson.


Novelists Mick Herron and Sarah Hilary.


Felix Francis (son of Dick Francis) signs one of his own books.


2008 Diamond Dagger winner Andrew Taylor interviews 2016 Diamond Dagger recipient Peter James.

SEE MORE: “Some Pictures from CrimeFest 2016,” by Peter Rozovsky (Detectives Beyond Borders).